Surge in customers, Jinnah sculpture replaced; Fort Kochi cafe is unusually busy

The quaint café located on Burgher Street, alongside the shores of a sweltering yet serene Fort Kochi, recently grabbed attention nationwide following a visit by a North Indian vlogger. Since the vlog was uploaded on social media, criticism and support came from both sides; a case was registered against the vlogger, social media went abuzz with discussion, and finally, the café went unusually busy even on working days.

Amrit Singh, the vlogger, made Kashi café a topic of discussion nationwide, highlighting the sculpture of Jinnah found on the walls. The vlogger also felt unsettled by the fact that the café served beef while its name alluded to the holy city of Uttar Pradesh. However, the café management confirmed that the name Kashi was not linked with the Hindu religion; rather, it was a Japanese word meaning sweet.

Despite the hue and cry, the Jinnah portrait got the spotlight. While some appreciated it for Kerala’s inclusive cultural climate that allowed any sort of artwork to thrive, a few others took offence over a café in India placing an artwork depicting a controversial figure known for his role in the communal riots of Direct Action Day that led to 4,000 to 10,000 deaths.

Tourists and natives are now flocking to the café to see the artwork, but alas, the management has another story to tell. According to reports cited by Onmanorama, the art gallery took down the Jinnah sculpture almost three months ago and replaced it with Greek works. This was in consultation with the artist Riyas Komu, co-founder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. The Jinnah sculpture was Komu’s Blood Brothers project, depicting the two fathers from Gujarat (Gandhi and Jinnah).

Meanwhile, as per reports, the staff also confirmed a surge in sales following the viral video. However, many visitors arrive to have a glimpse of the artwork rather than tasting the food. The staff are having a tough time handling the crowd and explaining to them why the artwork has been taken down.

IMAGE: AI representation